garnish 1 of 2

garnish

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word garnish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of garnish are adorn, beautify, deck, decorate, embellish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

Where would adorn be a reasonable alternative to garnish?

In some situations, the words adorn and garnish are roughly equivalent. However, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How are the words beautify and embellish related as synonyms of garnish?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When can deck be used instead of garnish?

The synonyms deck and garnish are sometimes interchangeable, but deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When is decorate a more appropriate choice than garnish?

While in some cases nearly identical to garnish, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is it sensible to use embellish instead of garnish?

The words embellish and garnish can be used in similar contexts, but embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of garnish?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of garnish
Noun
Some of these garnishes are also dressing up orange wine, a trending summer beverage. Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025 That simple inspiration for a garnish spearheaded the beloved cocktail that tennis fans drink today. Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
Adults can indulge in a selection of signature Day of the Dead cocktails made and garnished with the iconic Mexican marigold flower, cempasúchil, which is referred to in Mexican culture as ‘the flower of dead’. Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Each glass gets garnished with a bundle of grapes and a lime wheel. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for garnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for garnish
Noun
  • For her, the shelves of novels are more than just decorations.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These towering decorations are easy to set up and feature built-in, glowing lights to dial up the spookiness.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Families can enjoy painting a watercolor on the terrace with local artist Nancy Willis or a cookie-decorating class with Pastry Chef Celine Plano.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Its reversible design offers you the unique opportunity to decorate with the seasons—the lighter side for spring and summer and the darker to capture the moodiness of fall and winter.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Studs, leopard print, and DIY ornamentation sit alongside soft pastels, swirling graphic patterns, and a Nouveau color palette inspired by the Parisian Metropolitain signs.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Born into postwar optimism in the mid-20th century, the movement favored steel, concrete, and insulated glass in defiance of ornamentation.
    Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dainty gold buckles adorn the soft suede straps that will hold your feet firmly in place, and the square toe design offers room for your toes to sit comfortably without feeling squished.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The father-son duo both towered over Hargitay, adorning casual clothing in snaps taken from their visit.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to the Jesus tower, another would be dedicated to Mary, with bluish granite ornaments meant to evoke her iconic cloak; there would also be spires for each of the four Evangelists and the twelve apostles.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There’s a point at which there are too many ornaments on the Christmas tree and the whole thing is in danger of tipping over.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Whitney warns that the situation is poised to worsen, with impending wage garnishment for seriously delinquent student-loan debt set to further squeeze this cohort.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
  • If Darjean ultimately prevails, he will be entitled to pursue collection efforts, potentially including garnishment of Sanders’ NFL income.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Before the presentation, MAC Cosmetics’ lead makeup artist told WWD the makeup was inspired by Taíno culture in the Dominican Republic, with sequin wing adornments made to look like eyewear, feather lashes and foil lips.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The cake is quick to whip up and requires no icing or adornment.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Garnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/garnish. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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